Yankees call up Patterson, designate Ensberg for assignment

According to Mark Feinsand, the Yankees have called up Scott Patterson to give the Yankees an extra arm in the bullpen. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, Morgan Ensberg was designated for assignment.

For Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Patterson was 1-0 with a 3.04 ERA and three saves in 22 relief appearances. He struck out 22 and walked five in 23 2/3 innings. He also allowed 22 hits and two home runs. Feinsand also notes that Patterson retired 22 of 23 batters he faced in spring training.

Ensberg has struggled in his bench role. He has 15 hits in 74 at-bats with only four RBI.

Betemit back

My favorite player, Wilson Betemit, has been activated. He had been on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. In three rehab games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, he had three hits in 10 at-bats, with one home run and three RBI.

Alberto Gonzalez has been optioned back to Scranton, meaning that Morgan Ensberg is safe for the time being.

Cano hits in front of Cabrera, goes 4-4

As we all know, Robinson Cano has had a dismal start to the season. Before last night's game, he had a .183 batting average in 142 at-bats.

Since Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada have been out, the bottom of the lineup is not providing much protection. Cano has had to hit in front of Alberto Gonzalez, Morgan Ensberg and Jose Molina.

While Gonzalez is batting .290, the sample size is rather small, and pitchers would easily rather face him than face Cano. Ensberg is batting .224 with a .268 OBP. Molina has also been awful. Since April 13, Molina is batting .071 (3-42) with one RBI.

Obviously, whoever is batting eighth is not providing much protection for the seven-place hitter (usually Cano).

This was until last night when Joe Girardi put Cano in the six-hole and dropped Melky Cabrera to seventh. Cabrera has developed more power this year, slugging six home runs and driving in 18.

While Cano has been showing improvement - 9-29 with two home runs and four RBI between May 4 and May 13 - he was still below the Mendoza Line.

However, last night Cano's bat showed up. He went 4-4 with an RBI while hitting in front of Cabrera, propelling his average to .205. Cabrera had the misfortune of hitting in front of Ensberg, and went 0-4 as a result. He has been a slide of his own lately, going five for his last 31 with one RBI.

Hopefully this seemingly minor lineup adjustment will jump-start Cano. With Rodriguez and Posada remaining out of the lineup, any help they can get is huge.

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Hank speaks, and I don't really care

Mt. Hank Steinbrenner blew following last night's rough loss to the first-place (!) Tampa Bay Rays last night.

Kevin Kernan of the Post had all of the quotes.

Let's try to tackle this piece-by-piece.

"We've got to forget about all the injuries and start playing our butts off," Steinbrenner told The Post. The Yankees were buried by the Rays on Monday. These are difficult days for Joe Girardi's club.

"The bottom line is that the team is not playing the way it is capable of playing," Steinbrenner said. "These players are being paid a lot of money and they had better decide for themselves to earn that money."

Well, with guys like Jose Molina, Morgan Ensberg and Alberto Gonzalez playing every night, I believe the team is playing the way it is capable of playing. There is a reason why they were expected to be role players and not everyday players. There is also a reason why Alex Rodriguez is being paid $275 million over 10 years and why Jorge Posada got a huge contract.

"We have good professional hitters and I have a lot of faith in them," Steinbrenner said from Tampa. As for the team in general, he noted, "I'm not saying they are not giving the effort, but they need to be playing harder."

Again, two of the best and professional hitters have been out since April. Also, Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano, while showing signs of coming out of their respective slumps, have been dreadful. I also don't doubt that the team is playing hard. They are failing in the clutch, but that is not because they don't care.

"There's no question we need to turn it around and we have the talent to turn it around. We've got the team in place, and now they just have to go out and do it.

"This is going to get turned around," Steinbrenner said. "If it's not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have too."

This is my favorite part. I'd actually like to see him use force next year, because I'm curious as to what he means.

His next quote is about Joba Chamberlain, but that issue is so ridiculous that it doesn't need to be mentioned in this space.

"We'll add whoever we have to add," he said. "We're missing two big pieces, but this is basically the same lineup as last year. I have great faith in all of them."

Yes, it's the same lineup as last year when Posada and Rodriguez are playing. However, when Giambi is playing everyday and Cano is still inept, the lineup is much worse than it was last year. It's also a problem that this is the same lineup last year. At least last year they'd bully bad pitchers. So far this year, they can't hit anyone.


Regarding the Rays: "I'm happy for them, but I wish they were in the National League. They only had 13,000 there (Monday) night," Steinbrenner said. "That place should be packed. They're an exciting young team."

This I actually agree with. I know Florida Marlins' fans always jumped on the bandwagon, but the Rays have a legitimate good, young team that should be around for years.

Steinbrenner needs to just be quiet and let the players play. Does he really think speaking to some reporter from the Post will motivate the team? There is a reason why he was never involved with the team until this past off-season. They are only 40 games into the season and are remarkably only two games under .500. If things get much worse from here, then you can speak. Until then, just keep your mouth shut, please.

Posada still not allowed to throw

Jorge Posada is not allowed to throw and won't catch during the two-game series in Tampa that begins tomorrow night, according to Ed Price. Posada believes he'll be ready to catch on Wednesday when the Yankees return home to face the Boston Red Sox.

The Yankees are pushing their luck by playing both Posada and Jose Molina in these games. I don't know about you, but I don't to see Morgan Ensberg behind the plate.

Giambi hopes to play tomorrow

Jason Giambi left the game in the fifth inning with a left groin injury and was replaced by Wilson Betemit at designated hitter.

Giambi apparently felt tightness while running the bases on Robinson Cano's single.

According to Peter Abraham, Giambi is day-to-day, but hopes to be in the lineup tomorrow.

“I’m going to come in tomorrow prepared to play,” he said. “I don’t feel anything just walking around.”

Despite Giambi seemingly feeling OK, he will most likely be out of the lineup tomorrow. As a result, the Yankees should give Morgan Ensberg a shot at first base. Shelley Duncan threw a ball into the outfield this afternoon and also threw high on another occasion.

Betemit refuses to give up No. 14

As if I needed more of a reason to dislike Wilson Betemit, he would not give his No. 14 uniform to Morgan Ensberg - not even for $5,000, according to Jack Curry.

The newest member for the 40-man roster does not want to wear Paul O'Neill's old No. 21, so he's in the market for a new number. No. 14 is special to Ensberg, as it was retired by his high school.

In other news, the Yankees gave up six runs in the first inning and the game was canceled due to rain after 1 1-2 innings. Jonathan Albaladejo gave up six runs (all unearned) on five hits in 1-3 of an inning. Kyle Farnsworth gave up a hit and a walk in the second inning before the game was finally called.

Ensberg added to 40-man roster

Morgan Ensberg was added to the 40-man roster, according to Peter Abraham. His contract will be worth $1.75 million. Because he is out of options, he will likely be on the Opening Day roster when the team heads north.

He will also switch his uniform number, opting not to wear No. 21. "I can't wear Paul O'Neill's number," he said.

To make room for Ensberg, Carl Pavano was placed on the 60-day disabled list for the fourth consecutive year.

According to Kat O'Brien, he plans to make Wilson Betemit an offer for No. 14.

And the results are in

The poll on the right has closed.

I asked, "Who will play the most games at first base this season?"

The responses were as follows:

Jason Giambi - 28 votes (44%)
Shelley Duncan - 24 votes (38%)
Wilson Betemit - 2 votes (3%)
Morgan Ensberg - 6 votes (9%)
Other - 3 votes (4%)

I voted for Giambi. I feel that if he's healthy and is producing a decent amount, he will spend the majority of the time at first base. He hits much better when he's playing first (granted, much of that production was with Oakland while under the influence) but his defensive is suspect.

Duncan has had a hot spring so far, and I believe that he has a roster spot locked up. It helps that he can play the outfield as well. The amount of playing time Duncan has will obviously depend on his production. Betemit should be on the roster as a backup infielder, leaving Ensberg the odd-man out unless he has a spectacular spring.

It'll be interesting to see how Joe Girardi handles this.

Those who voted for "other," whom do you suggest?

I love this picture

Watch out, Morgan Ensberg!

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Mussina's rough day

Mike Mussina is in mid-season form, giving up the lead right after the Yankees scored for him on two different occasions.

After being given a 1-0 lead in the second inning, Mussina gave up two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Hunter Pence doubled and then scored on a Jose Cruz Jr. single. Cruz Jr. then took second when Mussina didn't cover the plate on the throw him. He was driven home by Humberto Quintero.

The Yankees scored three runs in the top of the third to retake the lead by a score of 4-2. Shelley Duncan hit an RBI single that scored Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano. Morgan Ensberg then drove home Duncan on a single.

Mussina came out for a third inning of work. Kaz Matsui and Lance Berkman singled to start the third. Carlos Lee was up after and drilled a pitch over the wall to take a 5-4 lead. Mussina was taken out right after and was replaced by Jeff Karstens. Mussina's final line was 2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR.

Mussina has been happy with his work in camp so far, so this is an obvious step in the wrong direction. He has the uncanny ability to surrender leads, so this is nothing new. Hopefully this isn't what he has been teaching Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.

In other news, the former Astros are chipping in. Ensberg is currently 2-2 with a double and an RBI and Jason Lane has also driven in a run.

Ensberg's big day

Non-roster invitee Morgan Ensberg went 2-3 with the only extra-base hit in today's intrasquad game. He also walked and scored three runs.

The "Geese" beat the "Gators" 6-2 on a chilly, wet day in Tampa.

Mike Mussina gave up four hits and one earned run over two innings, while walking one and striking out one. Sean Henn didn't help himself out in the bullpen competition, as he walked three batters and gave up two earned runs in 2/3 innings of work.

Happy P&C Day!

Yes, today is Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day - but more importantly, it's the day that pitchers and catchers (sans Andy Pettitte) are scheduled to report!

This is the day we have all been counting down to since the Yankees were eliminated by the Cleveland Indians on Oct. 8 at Yankee Stadium.

It's a day of fresh starts for everyone, and that's probably what is most exciting. We can all begin to forget what happened last year and look to this season.

There are some items of news out there today: Legends Field in Tampa is being renamed to honor George Steinbrenner. It will now be known as George M. Steinbrenner Field. Also, for some reason, Morgan Ensberg is wearing No. 21. The Yankees haven't assigned this number since Paul O'Neill retired after the 2001, so it's curious for them to assign it to a non-roster invitee.

More on Ensberg

Peter Abraham gives us more information on the Morgan Ensberg signing.

Ensberg would make $1.75 million if he makes the roster with an addition $2.25 million available in bonuses based on plate appearances.

Here’s who the Yankees will have at first base in camp:

Wilson Betemit
Shelley Duncan
Morgan Ensberg
Jason Giambi
Jason Lane
Juan Miranda

Betemit will be on the team because he can play a few positions. The Big G has to be on the team unless he’s on the DL. But who starts is up for grabs.

“I wouldn’t say anyone is a projected starter,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “There’s a job at first base that either someone is going to earn outright or it’s going to be an opportunity to mix a few different people in there.

That contract is a wee-bit excessive in my book. However, if he makes the roster, that would mean that he performed well in Spring Training, which means the Yankees would be fielding the best possible team.

The Yankees are right to not be depending on the trio of Giambi, Betemit and Duncan to be successful at first base this season.

Yankees sign Ensberg

The Yankees have signed Morgan Ensberg, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Despite being a third baseman by trade, the Yankees plan to use him at first base, even though he has only played one career game there. It's unclear whether the deal was a major-league deal or minor-league deal.

Ensberg hit .230 with 12 home runs last season, splitting time with the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.

He had his best season in 2005 with Houstin, when he hit .283 with 36 home runs and 101 RBI.

Earlier in January, the Yankees signed fellow Astro reject Jason Lane.

Update - 4:15 p.m.: ESPN is also reporting the deal. Ensberg signed a minor-league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

"I'm extremely excited about it,'' Ensberg said Thursday. "It's a great team and a great lineup. Most importantly, it's a team that's consistently playing for a World Series. After you've been in the league for a few years, you really start valuing that pursuit.''

So there you have it.